Domestic abuse - help and advice
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. Help and support are always available.
This page explains what to do in an emergency, how to get support in non-emergency situations, and how to stay safe while accessing information online.
Read how to leave no trace of your visit to this page.
If you are in immediate danger
If you are in danger right now:
- dial 999
- use the ‘Silent Solution’ if you cannot speak safely
The ‘Silent Solution’
If calling 999 could put you at risk, the ‘Silent Solution’ lets the police know you need help without speaking to the operator.
If you need help urgently, but you are too scared or unable to make a noise or speak, you can:
- dial 999
- listen to the questions from the call handler
- respond by coughing or tapping the phone if you can
- press 55 when prompted
Pressing 55 tells the operator it is a genuine emergency and connects you to the police.
If it is not an emergency
If you are not in immediate danger, you can still get support and advice.
You can:
- call the Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service on 01793 610610 (24-hour helpline)
- Visit the Swindon Paragon Team SPIDAS, Integrated Domestic Abuse Service
- Call Wiltshire Police on 101
Safe spaces for victims of domestic abuse
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you can access safe spaces in Boots pharmacies.
Boots consultation rooms provide a private space where you can contact specialist domestic abuse services for support and advice.
This is part of the ‘UK SAYS NO MORE’ campaign. Find out more on the UK SAYS NO MORE website.
Domestic Abuse Disclosure Scheme (Clare’s Law)
The Domestic Abuse Disclosure Scheme, also known as Clare’s Law, allows the police to share information about a person’s history of violence or abuse.
Under Clare’s Law, you can:
- apply for information about your current partner if you are worried they may have a history of abuse and are a risk to you
- request information about the current partner of a friend or family member if you are worried they might be at risk
To apply, visit the Wiltshire Police website on requesting information under Clare’s Law.
Leaving no trace of your visit to this page
If you are worried that someone may see you have visited this page, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk.
When you visit a website, your device may save:
- Your browsing history
- Temporary website data, such as cached files or cookies
You can delete this information from your browser. How you do this depends on the browser and device you are using, for example Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari, or Firefox.
You can usually find options such as ‘History’, ‘Clear browsing data’, or ‘Privacy settings’ in your browser’s settings menu. Your browser’s help pages can guide you through the steps.
You can also use ‘private’ or ‘incognito’ browsing mode. This prevents your browser from saving details of the pages you visit on that device.
Deleting your browsing data can help, but it may not remove all traces. If you need to be completely certain, the safest option is to access the internet somewhere else, such as:
- a local library
- a friend’s home
- your workplace